Disclaimer: I don't own 'Inuyasha' or any of its characters.
A/N: In this chapter will be moving forward in time and you'll be reading about more than one important event.
Chapter Sixty-One: Ten Years
Just as Inuyasha had predicted when they left the West, life in the village over the next few years became so quiet that, every now and then, Kagome needed something new to break the monotony. However, her husband was always more than willing to help her out, not to mention how well their children were prone to the chaos.
As they grew up, the two of them proved to be even more troublemakers. Then again, how could it have been otherwise if they grew up with a kitsune and a father like theirs? Spending time with Miroku and Sango's six children only fed their need for mischief, especially with the twin girls, who loved to tease the younger ones.
Upon further reflection, life in the village was actually not that monotonous. But Kagome definitely enjoyed it more than the trips to the castle where there was always some problem to solve or complaint to endure.
Life there hadn't become quiet at all even after the months and years had passed. If anything, it was getting more complicated by the second.
Noboru had been released a few months after the attack when Sesshomaru had made sure that the spirits in the entire valley had lifted and Rin had fully recovered. As Kimi had predicted, nothing changed following his release. The demon had no intention of playing any tricks so soon, especially since rumours of his alleged guilt had antagonized most of the court.
He was patient, though; he had grown accustomed to having to wait, although following his last bitter failure — his wonderful plan — and after spending months locked in his rooms, his daily routine was beginning to get to him. Still, he gritted his teeth and thought about how much more satisfying victory would be once it came.
In the meantime, he waited for the discontent to disappear completely so that he could return to plant the seed of doubt among those who were not his nephew's ultimate supporters. In particular, he concentrated on those who always had something to criticize and, above all, on those who did not appreciate Sesshomaru's sudden change of heart and his following in his human-loving father's footsteps.
As the months passed and the first anniversary of the attack on the valley approached, it was with pleasure that he realized how most of the negative feelings had changed their target. More and more demons at court now feared the day when Sesshomaru would announce a pregnancy, the birth of another half-breed. Contrariwise, they asked for an heir of pure blood and emphasized the need to continue a powerful bloodline before it became too diluted.
Noboru listened and snickered, noting how his nephew was always on the verge of tearing apart any demon who dared suggest such a thing or how he tensed at hearing the whispers of those who lived in the castle.
His mate still wouldn't give him an heir.
Half-breeds were not enough to rule those powerful lands.
A concubine would solve the problem.
Many strong women were more than willing to give themselves.
Those were just some of the things that were on everyone's lips, and mostly, it was the old commander's family that didn't give up even after Goro left the council.
Noboru wasn't at all convinced that the cat had resigned on his own. It wasn't in his character; he was too conceited and opportunist. Moreover, it was evident that Goro was still using every means at his disposal to put a spoke in the Inu-no-Taisho's wheels and push him to mate with Shou's daughter, the favourite of that side inclined to the introduction of a concubine.
In fact, gossip was one of the most effective tools to make a kingdom unstable and break the peace. Noboru found nothing wrong in feeding certain rumours with the help of his remaining followers. The few times he had the chance to meet his nephew's beautiful mate, he had no qualms about asking how soon they would have the honour of welcoming a new family member or even more than one if Sesshomaru decided to sire one on a concubine, finally giving in to the demands of the court.
The look that had crossed his nephew and sister's icy eyes, plus the frightened one of the weak human girl, rewarded him for every defeat he had suffered in those last months.
After all, it was convenient for him to stay in the shadows and only show up occasionally now that Sesshomaru was mostly busy navigating the discontent and the requests for a pureblood heir. No one would pay attention to him, and in the meantime, as he thought about his next move, he would enjoy the sight.
It had certainly been a good move to remove Goro from the council, even though the latter was retaliating by fuelling the rumours that had been plaguing him for a year now. Sesshomaru was convinced the current situation would have been even worse if the cat still had some decision-making power.
That part of the court could complain all it wanted, say whatever it wanted, but it wouldn't change anything. He would not be intimidated by a few evil voices.
However, he could not prevent those same ones from reaching Rin's ears, but he blessed weak human hearing more than once. At least, he was sure Rin couldn't hear what he could. When not with him, she spent time with the circle of demons created earlier by Kagome, Kimi and Asuka among the first. Each of them always took care to choose places not frequented by certain courtiers.
Of course, those precautionary measures did not entirely prevent Rin from hearing what was being said around. But Sesshomaru always had the feeling that his mate was mostly indifferent — or rather — already expected certain developments.
Or at least that was the case at the beginning. For that same reason, Sesshomaru felt it was safe to try with a second pregnancy when more than a year had passed since the miscarriage. Although he was aware rumours would intensify upon the birth of a half-demon heir, the dai-youkai did not care. Those who already accepted Inuyasha and his family without issue would also accept his hanyou pup. Not to mention that it would make Rin ecstatic.
But it wasn't meant to be.
Rin lost the baby before the third month was up and, therefore, before Sesshomaru could even announce it.
The rule imposed by Kagome certainly helped, especially since, that way, no one had been aware of the second miscarriage, yet Sesshomaru's anger did not abate. Nor did the thought that both his brother and sister-in-law knew more than they wanted to let on.
Then, he tried to regain control, comforting Rin while still trying to calm his inner turmoil. He told himself that his mate was still human, and he had to trust both priestesses when they told him it was perfectly normal.
Rin got back up, her smile reappeared on those lips he loved to kiss so much, and he resumed his duties as General. The gossipmongers didn't diminish, but Sesshomaru ignored them. He continued to do his job impeccably so that no one could make senseless criticisms against him.
The eve of the fifth year since the attack on the valley arrived, and the spirits in the west were growing restless. A third miscarriage followed the second, and at that point, Sesshomaru grew fed up with the young priestess' uncompromising and strict rules.
Why did Kagome always insist on hiding the pregnancy before the third moon came? Why did Rin lose the baby every time? Why those sad smiles that she and Inuyasha tried to hide every time pregnancy and heirs were mentioned?
Sesshomaru wasn't stupid; he had just ignored some things because he realized that it wasn't the right moment to confront the two of them. And yet… yet he still found himself speechless and without an enemy to defeat to console his mate.
How could he go on like this watching the woman he loved fade away under the weight of pain and rumours? Her face was paler and paler, her smile duller, her dark circles more pronounced. It was clear to everyone that something was wrong with the Lady of the West.
Reassurance was no longer enough, and he needed to know.
So it was that, right around the time of his mate's third miscarriage, Kagome and Inuyasha were forced to move to the West for some time and Sesshomaru finally took the opportunity to corner them.
It had been a long two days.
This time Sesshomaru had noticed before the time that something was wrong with Rin; the pains had started early, and he had not hesitated to send for the priestess.
When she arrived, he ordered her to solve the problem, accompanying his request with a look so cold it reminded her of the one he had given her during their first meeting.
His threats had been to no avail.
Kagome could never save those not meant to survive.
The worst, however, came later.
When the miko realized how weak Rin had become, mentally more than physically, how much the situation at the castle weighed on her more than she wanted everyone to believe, even Sesshomaru. But especially when, in no uncertain terms, the dai-youkai dragged both her and Inuyasha into his office in search of explanations.
For the first time since the well had closed behind her, Kagome was speechless and unsure of what to do.
It was particularly difficult for Sesshomaru to maintain his demeanour and, more importantly, keep his aura under control.
In front of him, he saw Rin, his sweet Rin, sinking under the weight of those words he had heard before and for which he could find no reason. He saw her give in to her own inner turmoil, to the guilt she felt was her own and the growing chaos in the castle that fed her doubts.
He also thought back to everything that had happened since Rin had become his mate: his brother and the priestess' peculiar attitudes, the way Inuyasha hadn't blinked an eye when he'd found out she was courting a human, how Kagome kept insisting every time — out of pure superstition and typically human customs, according to her — that they hide the pregnancy before the right time came.
Everything was like a wake-up call that Sesshomaru had purposely avoided paying attention to because of the trust he now placed in his brother and knowing where the latter's wife came from.
But given his mate's grief, after yet another loss, the dai-youkai was no longer interested in pondering those things at all. He demanded answers; he was entitled to them. No one could withhold certain information from him if it concerned Rin's health.
Therefore, Sesshomaru's newfound resolution brought them into his private office to discuss.
The air was unbreathable, and Kagome and Inuyasha kept exchanging worried glances; she was also probably considering the possibility of Sesshomaru mentally suffering the blow as well. Who had said, after all, that demons didn't fall into depression? Even for a dai-youkai like him, it must have been very hard to bear yet another loss. Was it possible that he was facing it, once again, in the only way he knew how? Surely the demon in front of them looked like it was about to tear them apart.
Automatically, Inuyasha took a step forward, covering his wife. Sesshomaru did not appreciate it; he emitted a low growl aimed at his half-brother as if he was offended by the implication.
However, the half-demon did not move as the elder continued to stare at him with icy eyes, and Kagome clutched his arm from behind.
Still, the last thing either of them would have expected was for Sesshomaru to ask them about the future.
"I demand that you reveal to me everything you know about my mate," he said in a deadly tone, finally breaking the tense silence of the room.
Kagome tried to regulate her heartbeat and expression so as not to give herself away, but Sesshomaru's statement had so startled her that she couldn't do much about it. From the way the dai-youkai jerked his head toward her, she had confirmation that she had not been good at all.
On the other hand, with more experience as far as Sesshomaru was concerned, her husband promptly donned a gruff mask complete with a fierce scowl and tried in vain to cover up for her mistake. "What should we know about Rin that you, her mate, don't already know?"
"Don't feign ignorance; you should understand that I didn't summon you here as a joke."
"Keh," Inuyasha huffed, crossing his arms and returning his deadly glare, "and you call that summon? I don't know what you want from us, but it's obvious that once again, you're looking for answers that are impossible to get."
Sesshomaru's golden eyes narrowed to two slits. "Perhaps for you...what about your mate from another era?" He shifted his gaze to Kagome and continued, "Miko, I want you to tell me everything you know about my mate's future."
Inuyasha squeezed his wife's arm as she tried and succeeded, at least better than before, to contain her reactions. "Sesshomaru, you clearly do not know what you are saying. Even if I knew Rin's future, I couldn't-"
"Lies," the dog demon burst out again. "I have been told lies from the beginning. Everything leads me to believe that you two always knew what would happen to her each time. What else did you know and not tell me? You were even aware of the attack on the valley five years ago and did nothing?" Anger wasn't making him think straight, and he made accusations that he normally knew were unfounded.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Do you think that if I had known demons had been hired to kill my children and mate I would have stood idly by? You're delusional, Sesshomaru," his brother replied, gesturing and then pointing a finger at him. "And remember what Kagome told you when you came to seek our help. We cannot give you information about the future, let alone any that might change it."
"Your reticence only convinces me, even more, that you have withheld important details about my companion's health. In doing so, you are endangering her very life!"
"How dare you!" Kagome exclaimed, outraged. "You have the gall to say such things to me? I have been taking care of her since she was a child. If it weren't for my advice, you would have dragged her through an endless line of healers who would have spilt the truth about the miscarriages to everyone in this castle. Think of how much more suffocating the situation would have been! Do you think I would put her life at risk?"
"When you omit certain information, you do, miko." He took a step toward them, threatening, and instinctively Inuyasha covered Kagome even more.
"We told you everything we could! I've put my future knowledge to use to do everything I can for you!" she shouted, irritated, her body shaking with anger. "You think this is a game to me? Do you think it was easy for me, in the beginning, to live in a different era than my own? Do you have any idea how even the slightest thing could change the future forever?"
"It's clear that what you do is not enough." Sesshomaru looked down at her. "And I don't care about this future you speak of if it compromises the health of the woman I love."
Kagome opened her mouth wide in disbelief as Inuyasha prevented her from throwing herself at her half-brother by making a rash gesture dictated only by anger. Even the half-demon was struggling to control himself, but given the situation, he found it safer to take care of his mate's safety first.
"Selfish," she hissed as Inuyasha held her down. "You're just a pompous egotist who can't even think through the consequences of his own actions." She laughed, but it was an icy, emotionless laugh. "You accuse me of keeping non-existent truths from you and you don't even realize that if I told you even one thing about the future, you would be disturbing everything else, even your own life and that of the mate you protect so much! What will be the use, then, to give birth to a child if that same world would no longer be liveable? You don't know what you're talking about, and you never will as long as you only care about what matters to you personally."
Sesshomaru growled as his eyes turned red, and his face began to lose its more human features. The anger now was so great that he was on the verge of transforming inside the castle and the way Kagome had spoken to him — she who had never been afraid to attack his ego — had only destabilized him more.
At that point, Inuyasha completely covered his mate's body and began to retreat as slowly as possible, not knowing how to avert a transformation. He cursed, then, in a more subservient tone than he would have liked to avoid provoking his half-brother, even more, he whispered, "Sesshomaru, there's no need. No one is attacking you."
The dai-youkai's eyes continued to change from golden to red, while the skin on his face tended more and more toward white.
The half-demon froze, bringing his arms behind him to hold Kagome when Sesshomaru growled even more and met his gaze. "Sesshomaru, think about it; let's talk about this without arguing. There is no threat."
In Inuyasha's eyes, Sesshomaru had to read something that shook him along with the strangely weaker than usual tone of his voice. He came to his senses and that much was enough to gain control of his body again.
As angry and outraged as he was at the way the priestess persisted in lying to him and talking down to him, he wasn't going to lose control of himself so easily. He was stronger than that.
"Talk about it," he repeated, sneering at him. "You have no right to tell me what to do when you defend that woman and, at the same time, help her withhold information necessary for Rin's health!"
Kagome made to speak again, but Inuyasha signalled her to leave the rest to him. "Do you realize what you're saying? Kagome has been scrambling all along to take care of her; why would he jeopardize her life? Think about what we've been telling you all along! What you know is all we can say, not to mention that we don't know about the future either. We don't know anything about it precisely because it's dangerous." He tried to be as convincing as possible and hide that half-lie along with other truths.
It was true that he and Kagome knew more about Rin, but at the same time, they had never been told anything regarding the future. The only exception to the rule had been what was supposed to save the life of Sesshomaru's mate. To claim that they were harming the latter's health was a contradiction!
At that point, without waiting for his brother to respond, he continued, "I don't think there's anything more to add, nor do you seem to want to have a quieter kind of conversation. So Kagome and I will be leaving." With that said, he left the office, dragging his mate away as quickly as he could.
Sesshomaru stood there, staring at the spot where they had disappeared a few seconds ago, before releasing another frightening growl. Then, with a sudden gesture, he destroyed the desk in front of him into a thousand pieces.
It was not like him to behave in such a childish way, to unleash his anger without an enemy in front of him.
Sesshomaru had long since come to terms with himself; he knew he was no longer what he once was in many ways. Yet he had remained proud and satisfied with his strength. But now, what was he to do with it if he was beginning to feel increasingly worthless?
What could he possibly do to erase that pain gripping his chest and the image of Rin, weak and lost, from his mind and eyes?
Therefore, the dai-youkai, aware that he could do nothing against his brother's and sister-in-law's silence — which made him feel even more helpless — relied on his feelings to try and ease Rin's pain and, consequently, his own.
How ironic life was: for centuries he had despised that word — love — which left a sour taste in his mouth; he had mocked his father for becoming its prey, his brother... and now it was all he had left.
Because next to Kagome's care, the only other thing that could lift Rin's spirits was his affection and support. And as much as he thought about it, as much as he could see it having an effect, it seemed pathetic.
Pathetic to have to rely on something he'd always repudiated and not be able to erase his enemy lest it might visit them again.
So, as Rin still struggled to return to her old self, Inuyasha and his family were forced to stay in the palace for an indefinite period of time when it became clear to those who had come to know him well that Sesshomaru wasn't doing so well either.
The strong and unbeatable Sesshomaru had been struck down in his affections.
Another two years passed, and the situation had more or less recovered, even if the gossip and rumours showed no sign of abating. Meanwhile, Sesshomaru and Rin had not been brave enough to try again.
They enjoyed each other's presence, ignored malice wherever possible, and Sesshomaru silenced as many people as he could without any qualms.
All in all, the dai-youkai told himself when he lay down next to Rin at night, his life had become much happier since mating her, less lonely and dedicated to conquest. It didn't matter if there had been darker areas or if there was still something missing they preferred not to talk about.
He was happy. He had discovered the beauty of what he had always mocked; he had repented and made amends for mistakes he was not proud of.
Time had no importance. What were seven years to him who had lived for centuries? It was like the passing of months for humans and, now, also for Rin, who shared his longevity.
Eventually, he would finally fill that void that he had never imagined could matter so much. For the moment, he was more content with her presence beside him, with every time a radiant smile appeared on her lips, with those loving looks and everything that made her and had opened his eyes.
However, it was right around that time, just over two years after their last failure, that another loss came upon the couple and the family that lived further east.
The time came for Kaede to leave that world of theirs as well. And no sword would save her.
As much as the demons didn't pay too much attention to the passage of time, living in contact with humans changed their perspective little by little, inevitably.
It hadn't been that big of a deal to Inuyasha, having spent his childhood with a human mother and then built a life with a human wife and friends. Although he considered the period following Izayoi's death and preceding his meeting with Kikyo to be one big block punctuated only by the changes of his body, mostly unfocused, the rest of his days had more or less always settled into a human rhythm.
He saw the white hair and wrinkles increase without wondering why, instead, his face remained unchanged. He knew that, for humans, the passing of the seasons was faster and that the moment one began to feel affection, it was best not to ask questions and enjoy the time given.
Kagome, too, had come to terms with this harsh reality from the first moment Inuyasha had explained to her what becoming his mate entailed. And as much as it hurt, she knew that she was willing to do anything to stay next to him. In the same way, she didn't ask herself questions; she didn't linger on the now more wrinkled faces around her. She appreciated every single moment.
Who instead found it hard to feel the passing of time was Sesshomaru. Next to him was Rin, who surrounded by demons, had been influenced in turn. If the dai-youkai didn't care to adapt to that vision, having no contact with humans other than the two women whose lives had been extended, Rin was quite shocked to learn that Kaede was no longer the woman she had left seven years ago.
During one of her visits to the village, she realized the difference and, later, Kagome warned her of the likelihood that Kaede would not last much longer.
When the day arrived, both Sesshomaru and Rin were quite impressed to learn how much time had passed. And if Sesshomaru was not touched by the priestess' absence, Rin fell into a state of particular sadness very close to depression. When the dai-youkai accompanied her to the village to take part in the funeral ceremony, Kagome suggested that the two of them stay there for at least a couple of days before returning to the West.
It was a sad day for everyone in the village; each villager, in their own way, had loved and known the elderly priestess, who had also been a grandmother and mother to many. Although Kaede had never married and had decided not to have a family of her own, she had acquired an even larger one when she became a priestess. There were more than a few tears shed that day, and even Inuyasha struggled to keep his facade composed; he had met Kaede when she was a pestiferous child, and though he had lost most of her life to the seal, he still couldn't believe she wasn't there anymore.
He and Kagome exchanged a meaningful glance and refused to turn back to their friends for fear of formulating even more oppressive and tremendous thoughts. In fact, being aware of the passage of time didn't mean they weren't affected by it. Compared to Sesshomaru and his mate, they were just better at treasuring the time allotted, precisely because they knew how little it was in terms of a demon's life.
Certainly, the death of Kaede, who had raised Rin as if she were a daughter, did not bode well with the young woman, already battling her own personal problems.
That evening, when the four of them were at Inuyasha and Kagome's — the spirits decidedly dejected, if you didn't count Sesshomaru —, the young priestess could clearly notice Rin's wasted physique since the last time they had seen each other. Such a thing had probably already been noticed by the demons at court, and it wasn't good, not when there were already voices against a human Lady and regarding the lack of a demon heir.
With a critical eye, the woman approached the topic. "Perhaps, to give yourself some mental rest and let you recover, you could stay for a longer period here in the village. What do you say, Rin?" she handed her a cup of hot tea that was supposed to help her relax her nerves.
But Rin didn't have time to say she didn't want to be a burden when Kagome and the children had also felt the loss of Kaede because Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's voices joined in chorus.
"No," they both exclaimed, standing still.
Kagome turned her head sharply, eyes wide. "No?" Her gaze turned from stunned to accusatory. "You mean to tell me that you don't see how much Rin needs a break from court life? We all need a rest now and then!" She certainly didn't want to say out loud and in front of her friend how worried she was about her situation, but those two were proving to be more stubborn than usual. She hadn't expected anything different from Sesshomaru, but she was amazed by her own mate.
"No," Sesshomaru repeated, undaunted. "Rin will return with me to West by the second day. Not a second more."
Kagome opened her mouth to retort, ready to have yet another debate with her brother-in-law, but Inuyasha beat her to the punch. "As much as I can understand your goodwill, koi, staying indefinitely in the village would not benefit Rin," he explained to her. "Prolonged absence from the castle would only increase malicious rumours. People would begin to insinuate the bond between the two of them is not genuine, and they would press Sesshomaru even further, making their indecorous proposals." He then crossed his arms in his usual signature pose and looked at her as if he had said everything that needed to be said.
In fact, she thought, the reasoning was sound. However, once again, more importance was given to appearances than to the girl's health, which was deteriorating before their eyes.
In days like those, Kagome particularly struggled to overlay the Rin of her current era with that of the future. Certainly, knowing that Rin would become a strong woman, a happy mother, and return to the carefree one she once was, instilled particular positivity in her. But the more negative part of her mind reminded her the future was never set, and anything that went a little different would change all the cards, even what she had already seen in the future. Being from two different eras was sometimes hard, and she struggled to keep her sanity.
She could try to counter the two brothers, but she knew it was a losing battle. Things really were as they said: being too far away from the village would hurt Rin in the long run. That meant she would have to make the most of those two days.
Her shoulders sagged for a moment, but then, as if nothing had happened, she straightened up and gave the girl a bright smile. "It means that we will take our time with life during these two days, won't we? We'll have a spa stay modelled on the Sengoku era," she exclaimed determinedly.
"A spa?" Rin asked, puzzled, as Inuyasha shook his head and Sesshomaru looked at Kagome as if she was crazy.
"Don't worry," she winked. "I'll teach you how to have fun in my era of birth."
She certainly never lacked fortitude.
There were not a few complaints at court in the period following Kaede's death, but that was nothing new. The more time passed, the more the people of the valley wanted to sneak into Sesshomaru's private life and insist on an heir. It had been like that even before Rin became their Lady or Inuyasha the heir. But the turmoil of the last few years only had stimulated the restless spirits more, with the help of some demon intent on not giving Sesshomaru an easy ride.
The dai-youkai had always taken everything philosophically which, in his language, meant ignoring everything, knowing no one could really expect anything from him. But following another particularly violent argument with Kagome — Inuyasha certainly was beginning to get annoyed with their frequent bickering — something changed.
"Are you going to keep letting them do this behind your back, behind Rin's back? You may be indifferent to everything, but she's not. It's not good for her; I don't know how to tell you that anymore." She brought her hands to her hair for emphasis.
"Still insisting on running my life, miko?"
Inuyasha and Kimi, who were watching the altercation, rolled their eyes at almost the same time; it was a fairly common sight now.
"If you would just listen to me for once!"
"If I don't, it's because I obviously don't deem your advice worthy of importance," Sesshomaru retorted icily, full of contempt.
Kagome narrowed her gaze. "Fine, have it your way. Let all these envious and frustrated people, as prejudiced as you once were, talk behind your mate's back and speak derogatory words to her that lower her self-esteem even more! Tonight, when you go to bed, take a good look at her and tell me if she's the same woman you mated eight years ago; tell me she hasn't changed and is happy with the way things are going!"
For a second, the half-demon saw the pain cross his brother's eyes and realized, once again, that Kagome had addressed him with words that undermined his confidence quite a bit. "Kago-" he tried to say, moving closer, but Sesshomaru's more altered voice beat him to the punch.
"What am I supposed to do?" he snapped, exasperated, not hiding his frustration, not even trying. It was in those moments one could see how much he, too, was tried by those events. Only in their presence did he show how bad he really felt about it, how he wasn't as indestructible as everyone thought. He probably used Inuyasha and Kagome as an outlet. But, if he hadn't, he would have long ago lost his mask in front of Rin — whose happiness, in his own way, he was always trying to preserve — and the court, just waiting to see him fall apart.
Sesshomaru was not invincible, not as he had once believed. He had not been wrong at the time when he had claimed that joining that human princess had brought his father to his death. Still, he no longer blamed him; he recognized now why Toga had been willing to give his life to have even a few years with her. He probably would have done it all over again, and his only regret was not spending more time with his children. Now, Sesshomaru understood what it meant to sacrifice himself for the woman he loved. And for Rin, today, Sesshomaru let go of his mask, no longer afraid of being judged by his brother and the latter's mate he once considered enemies or his mother, who was once even colder and stricter than him.
He turned his back on everyone and looked back at the horizon. "What am I supposed to do?" he repeated in a lower voice. "I can't forbid certain people to speak."
When Kagome finally answered, her tone had changed as well. It was gentle and tender, like when she spoke to her children whenever they thought they couldn't make it through some daily challenge or simply needed a little encouragement. It was the voice of someone who understood that Sesshomaru needed support just as much as Rin did, just in a different way. "Suffice it to reiterate that there will be no new heir at the moment, that you are young and do not yet feel the need to become a father." Sesshomaru turned to send her another icy stare, but he also knew what else she had wanted to say to him. It didn't matter if it was the truth or not; the ultimate goal was just to make those people realize they needed to stop with their unnecessary demands.
"Kagome is not so wrong, son," Kimi interjected. "They think they have too much freedom in their speech. By ignoring them, you are kind of playing into their hands. They need to understand that you're still strong and capable of directing them, and there's no need for an heir right now. What's the point of insisting on one when you have no intention of stepping down yet? Your father was twice your age when he had you, and don't get me started on how many years we were together before we tried to have a child!"
Inuyasha huffed. "That those bastards were only complaining to get in our way was pretty obvious. They're complaining because they don't like your mate, because your heir isn't a pureblood, because they're hoping to wear us all out and break you down until you accept that damn concubine!"
"As if I could be swayed by their insulting talk!" the elder brother replied.
"But you could be swayed by a mate who, instead, is affected by them," Kagome said again, the voice of the reason. It was the truth, after all. Sesshomaru was indifferent to everything but Rin's pain.
Silence fell over the room for a few minutes, and everyone waited with bated breath for his answer.
Finally, as if giving in to his sister-in-law would cost him a lot of strength — and it probably did — Sesshomaru approved. "So be it... if it's for Rin, I'll finally shut those people up."
Sesshomaru went back to being that icy, emotionless face he had been before Inuyasha was released from the seal. Although he had always maintained a rather cold and unfriendly demeanour on the outside, his features had softened somewhat. However, after their last talk, he put even more effort into making it clear to everyone that he would no longer allow such affronts. The transformation was so sudden that, at times, he would not let go of that attitude even in front of his family. Several times, his nephews had trouble recognizing him; they, after all, had never met the demon who had hated humans so much.
And if he hadn't done so before to avoid public scenes, he had no more qualms about openly declaring at court that he had no intention of taking a concubine, let alone Keiko. He advised her to find a mate among the many demons still free instead of trying to conquer such a degrading position.
He would remember Commander Shou's face after his announcement for centuries to come.
And cruel he was now to so many others who dared to continue with their malicious words and absurd proposals in more and different ways. That attitude stopped most of them, though not all, and the family still considered it a good result.
Goro went so far as to threaten Sesshomaru with revealing to everyone that Rin had miscarried shortly after arriving at court, and his audacity was indeed honourable. However, as he found himself the victim of the dai-youkai's claws, which disfigured his face quite a bit, he quickly realized he had gone too far. Sesshomaru's face, transformed by anger, made him take a couple of steps back.
That and the fact that the dog demon told him, in no uncertain terms, that one more move like that and he would reveal to everyone why he had been kicked off the council. The idea of becoming the laughing stock of the court was even more compelling than the physical injury.
Everyone knew that the warning wouldn't last forever, that Goro unfortunately always came back. But they were still happy with the truce. When it ended, Sesshomaru would have no problem reminding him of that day's words.
Thus, the overall rumours diminished, as did Inuyasha's family's travels to the West. Although the half-demon regularly returned to the castle, for the most, it was Rin who visited the village more often and watched the children slowly grow into teenagers. Kagome now believed it was good for her to be part of their lives, to witness their milestones and important moments, to satisfy her maternal instincts for the time being. Sesshomaru, for his part, found no objection, especially when the changes gradually brought back some colour to her face and several times a smile.
At night, when she lay down beside her husband, Kagome sighed because another tragedy had been averted, and Rin was getting better and better. Although she felt like a sword of Damocles was constantly hanging over her head because of what she knew, she accepted what life had given her and made the best of it.
Rin had proven to be strong and had everything it took to become the confident, happy woman she met in the future. And in all truth, Kagome couldn't wait to meet her again. In the meantime, she would help her younger version as much as possible to mould her proud and carefree character.
A/N: This was more of a transitional chapter that served to move forward temporally and, at the same time, tell what our protagonists had to deal with. I hope everything seemed realistic enough, always considering the psychological weight that certain events have on the mind. From the next chapter onwards we will pick up from this point, ten years after Rin and Sesshomaru's mating and we'll meet again who wasn't included in this chapter.
I hope you'll like it and I'll see you next week!